Installing File Scavenger

If you are recovering files from the boot drive (for example, drive C:, "My Documents", "My Desktop"), follow the
indirect download procedure. This procedure improves the
chance of recovery by not writing new files to the boot
drive. It requires a second computer. If you do not have a second computer, you
can run the program directly from our web site but with a slightly reduced
chance of a successful recovery.

If you are recovering files from
a data drive (i.e., a non-system and non-boot drive), both the indirect and direct procedure are safe to use.

Indirect download procedure when recovering files from the boot drive:

Use a second computer to download and save File Scavenger® to a portable storage device such as a USB flash drive.

Insert the USB flash drive in the computer holding the lost files.

Use Windows Explorer to locate the file filescav.exe and double-click on it to start File Scavenger®.

Choose to run File Scavenger® without installation.

When you are ready to purchase a license, do not launch an Internet browser on the computer holding the lost files.
Click Licenses, Licensed Mode to
display the Registration Code. Write it down and use the second computer
to purchase a license through our web site.

A data drive is one that holds no system files required by Windows® to
operate. (Note that a boot drive on one computer becomes a data drive if removed and installed in another computer as a non-boot drive.)

The procedure is as follows:

Download and install File Scavenger® on the boot drive.

Start File Scavenger® and scan for files on the data drive.

When you are ready to purchase a license, click Licenses, Launch Internet browser to visit our web site.

When you are ready to purchase a license, do not launch the Internet browser on the computer holding the lost files because the browser will create many new files on the boot drive,
thus reducing the chance of a successful recovery. Instead, click Licenses, Licensed Mode to
display the Registration Code. Write it down and call us to purchase a license.